A weekend in Belfast

Black Friday Deals

With the amount of online retailers offering Black Friday and Cyber Weekend deals it's hard to see all the best ones for yourself so I've done the hard work for you and picked out some of my favourites. There are hundreds more especially on electrical goods at retailers such as John Lewis and Currys if you are on the hunt for a new tablet or laptop but these are my fashion picks... happy shopping!

• Missguided - 50% off Party Wear with code WOW50 (7am - 9am on 27th Nov only)

• Missguided - 20% off everything with code CYBER20 (27th Nov - 29th Nov)

• Oliver Bonas - 30% off sale items (applied automatically at the checkout)

• Zara - 20% off T-shirts, Outerwear, Knitwear and Boots (27th Nov only)

• ASOS - 20% off everything with code CYBER (27th - 29th Nov)

• Topshop - up to 50% off selected lines (26th Nov - 30th Nov)

• Urban Outfitters - up to 50% off everything (27th - 29th Nov)

• River Island - up to 50% off your winter want list (27th - 29th Nov)

• Harvey Nichols - 25% off fashion and accessories however if you download the rewards app you will receive 35% off

• Hollister - 25% off entire purchase with code 35503 (27th Nov only)

• All Saints - 30% off with code CYBER (27th - 29th Nov)

• Debenhams - half price Women's Designer Knitwear (27th Nov only)

• Debenhams - VAT free fragrance gift sets (27th Nov only)

• Pandora - Silver chain bracelet with 1 charm and 2 clips for £99 (RRP £160) click here

• Kiko Milano - 30% off all purchases online and "buy 3 get 3 free" offer on all products in store (26th - 29th Nov)

• Aspinal of London - 20% off all purchases (automatically applied at the checkout)

• Whistles - 20% off everything in store and online (26th - 30th Nov)

• Office - 20% off full price styles with code SNOW 

• GAP - 40% off full price styles with code FRIDAYGAP (27th - 29th Nov)

• H&M - 25% off £75 with code 3261, 15% off £50 with code 3260, 10% off £25 with code 3258 (27th Nov only)

• Motel - 30% off everything with code CYBER30

• Goldie London - 25% off with code BLACKFRIDAY25 (27th Nov only)

• Public Desire - 20% off everything with code CYBERBAE (27th - 29th Nov)

• Pretty Little Thing - 50% off everything plus free delivery (27th Nov)

• Monki - 25% off coats (27th - 29th Nov)

• Monki - 20% off everything (30th Nov)

• The Outnet - up to 80% off starting 27th Nov (go and grab your designer goods!)

Real Techniques Brush Review

Interior: Bedroom

I don't know about you but my favourite blog posts to read and videos to watch are ones that tell you more about the person you are watching. I love seeing room tours and daily vlogs because you get to be that little bit nosier and find out what goes on behind the professional front that you usually see. 

I moved in to my flat in July and it was completely unfurnished which I was initially put off by due to the expense of furnishing the whole place but in hinds sight I'm really happy that it was. I've spent the last three years as a student living in bedrooms full of mismatched furniture and made a half-hearted effort to put my mark on them. I didn't really want to spend loads of money decorating a room that I would only be in for a year, plus when you're at University you rarely spend any time in your room. 

This time I had a fresh canvas and was ready for the challenge of decorating on a budget which I feel like I managed pretty well. As much as I struggle to admit it I'm definitely a girly-girl at heart and steering away from the blush pink and nude theme was a big refreshing step for me. I decided to stick to white and grey and also de-cluttered along the way and I love how it turned out. 

Top image:

Dressing table - Dunelm Mill

Jewel fairy lights and "18" decorations - presents so I'm not sure where they are from, sorry!

Brush holder (that every man and his dog owns) - IKEA

Bottom images:

Bedframe - IKEA

White stripe bed set - BHS

Cushion covers - H&M

Dreamcatcher - this was a birthday present but I think it's from Urban Outfitters

String of fairy lights - IKEA

Above:

Jewellery/trinket box - Ibiza 

Mosaic style candle holder - Turkey 

Cacti - IKEA 

Perfumes:

Alien - Thierry Mugler

Viva la Juicy - Juicy Couture

Daisy Dream - Marc Jacobs

Above:

Pearled Jasmine candle - Clintons

Cactus - IKEA

Above:

Make-up storage - TK Maxx

Bubble lamp and desk chair - IKEA

Candles:

Yorkshire Soap Company

Lily-flame

Boux Aveunue

Above:

Glass and metal candle holder - this was a present but I think it's from M&S

Beaded photo frame - TK Maxx

Mosaic tea light holder - My mum's

Books:

The Ice Twins - S. K. Tremayne

The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins

Us - David Nicholls

October

October according to my iPhone

The start of Autumn

Adding the finishing touches to the flat 

Half-hearted Halloween (my outfit that is.. Halloween itself didn't disappoint)

Weekend in Manchester ft. fun night at Warehouse Project

Joining a new gym
A sudden obsession with mangoes

The last of the summery sunsets

Continuing to eat out.. against my own rules (oops)

Sticking to a running regime

Too much cocktail and gin drinking

No-Spend November

I can't believe it's November, where has this year gone? (I say that every year but honestly this year has flown). If you're in the same position as me you will be thanking the stars above that last week was EVENTUALLY pay day after a long, long five week month.

Yesterday marked a whole five months in my first full-time "grown up" job (happy almost-half-year work anniversary to me!) and I've almost accepted that I am no longer a student but it appears my student overdraft is still looming - more prominently than ever. So, I've decided to do something about it.

I know lots of students were lucky enough to never have to use an overdraft but unfortunately when you only receive enough loan to just cover the price of your rent and still want to have a life then sometimes it means you have to make use of whatever is on offer. (I did also have two part time jobs throughout my third year of University as well as a loan so evidently I just have a spending habit, oops).

This month I have made a budget - I can't actually believe I am budgeting like an adult. I got paid on Thursday and worked out how much of my wage I'd have left after my rent and bills then I allowed myself £30 for petrol and £30 for my Halloween weekend out in Newcastle (optomistic I know) which left me with.. not a lot.

When I divided the remaining amount by the amount of days left in the month I was left with £11.31 a day and thought to myself, hang on, that's actually not so bad at all. There's no real reason to need to spend £11 every single day and it makes me wonder what on earth I usually spend my wage on so quickly and why I end up dabbling in my overdraft towards the end of the month.

I'm determined to spend on only essentials throughout the week and stop splashing out on lunch, going out for dinner a silly number of times a week and buying unnecessary coffee (you don't realise how much that daily skinny capp adds up to until you cut it out). The plan is that saving during the week will leave me with enough money to do something fun on a weekend. This way I can also enjoy a leisurely weekend instead of living every day that way without the funds to support it like I usually do...

Here's the five main changes/challenges I have given myself that I hope will make a difference:

• Only one mid-afternoon coffee as a weekly treat
• No purchase of ANY clothes for the full month
• Use all ingredients in the fridge/freezer before doing another food shop (this one is also to decrease food waste)
• Try and make enough dinner for to have for lunch the next day instead of going to the shop everyday
• Learn to say no to social invites - you don't need to go for every meal/drink you are invited to (hopefully this will help me recharge my batteries after a busy few months)

I'm actually really excited to see if I can stick to it. I managed my whole weekend in Newcastle with a mere £30 spending money so let's see how much I can really save this month.

Let me know if you're doing anything similar!